Cirrhosinones A-H, 24-hydroxy cevanine-type alkaloids from Fritillariacirrhosa

Eight undescribed isosteroidal alkaloids cirrhosinones A-H (1-8), along with six known isosteroidal alkaloids (9-14), were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don. Their structures were determined by HRESIMS and 2D NMR analysis, and their absolute configurations were established by X-ray analysis. Compounds 1-8 possessed a typical cevanine-type alkaloid skeleton with a hydroxyl group rarely substituted at C-24 and compounds 4-8 possessed rare 7α or 7β-hydroxyl groups. This was the first report of both C-7 and C-24 hydroxyl groups substituted cevanine-type alkaloids. In addition, an approach for distinguishing D/E cis and trans conformations of cevanine-type alkaloids by ¹H NMR data was developed. Moreover, the correlations between the relative configurations of 3-OH, 7-OH, 22-C, 24-OH, and 25-Me and the ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data were also summarized. Compounds 1-9 exhibited moderate NO inhibitory activities in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells at the concentration of 40 μM. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of compounds 1-7 and 9-10 were also evaluated and none of them showed acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities at the concentrations of 20-80 μM.

Water Extract of Fritillariae thunbergii Bulbus Inhibits RANKL-Mediated Osteoclastogenesis and Ovariectomy-Induced Trabecular Bone Loss

Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus has been widely used to treat symptoms of coughs and airway congestion in the chest due to pathological colds and damp phlegm in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite its long history of traditional use, its pharmacological activities on osteoclastogenesis and osteoporosis have not been evaluated. This study investigated the effects of the water extract of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus (WEFT) on osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow-derived macrophage cells and on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis in mice. We found that WEFT significantly inhibited osteoclastogenesis by downregulating the receptor activator of the NF-κB ligand (RANKL) signaling-induced nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) expression. In an OVX-induced osteoporosis model, WEFT significantly prevented the OVX-induced trabecular loss of femurs, accompanied by a reduction in fat accumulation in the bone marrow and liver. In addition, WEFT significantly prevented weight gain and gonadal fat gain without recovering uterine atrophy. Using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, seven alkaloids (peimisine glucoside, yibeissine, peiminoside, sipeimine-glucoside, peimisine, peimine, and peiminine) were identified in WEFT. The results of this study suggest that WEFT can be a potential pharmacological candidate to reduce menopausal osteoporosis and menopause-related symptoms, such as fat accumulation.

A new alkaloid with cytotoxic activity from Fritillaria thunbergii Miq

A new alkaloid named zhebeisine (1), together with four known compounds, eduardine (2), zhebeirine (3), isoverticine (4), and verticine (5), was isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods and the in vitro biological activities of it were evaluated as well. Compound 1 features a veratramine skeleton with a rare 6/6/5/6/6/6 fused-ring system, representing the first reported veratramine-type alkaloid with a new oxazinane ring (ring-F) in Fritillaria genus. The cytotoxic activities study revealed that compound 1 inhibited the cell proliferation of HT29 and DLD1 (IC₅₀ values of 25.1 and 48.8 µM, respectively) and also induced apoptosis of the above-mentioned two cancer cell lines.

Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe Beimu): A review on its traditional uses, phytochemical profile and pharmacological properties

Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe beimu) ranked as oldest known homeopathic traditional folk medicine in China. The bulbs are medicinally important curing cough, inflammation, gastric ulcers, hypertension, diarrhea, and bronchitis. The aim of this review is to enlighten the deeper knowledge about F. thunbergii giving a comprehensive overview on its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology for future investigation of plant-based drugs and therapeutic applications. Total 48 medicinally important species of Fritillaria were described; total 122 compounds have been identified as results only 72 chemical constituents were described with proper chemical and biological details. F. thunbergii and its bulbs mainly constitute alkaloids, essential oils, diterpenoids, carbohydrates, sterols, amino acids, nucleosides, fatty acids, and lignans. The pharmacological studies demonstrate that F. thunbergii and its bulbs displays a wide range of bioactivities e.g., anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antitussive, expectorant, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-thyroid, regulation of blood rheology, anti-diarrhea, neuroprotection, and analgesic effects. Although promising reports on the various chemical bioactive constituents and biological properties of F. thunbergii have been published, very few reviews are related specifically to the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological applications. Further, various other studies on these plants should deserve our more attention for future investigation for drug development and its therapeutic applications.

Three novel furospirostanol glycosides and a steroidal alkaloid glycoside from the bulbs of Fritillaria camtschatcensis (L.) Ker Gawl., and their cytotoxicity

Three novel steroidal glycosides (1-3) and a previously described steroidal alkaloid glycoside (4) have been isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria camtschatcensis (L.) Ker Gawl. (Liliaceae). The structures of novel compounds 1-3 were characterized based on NMR spectroscopy and chemical transformations. Compounds 1-3 are furospirostanol glycosides bearing a (3S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl moiety at C-26 in the aglycone. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated in terms of their cytotoxic activities toward HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells, and SBC-3 human lung small cell carcinoma cells. Only 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60, A549, and SBC-3 cells with IC₅₀ values of 22.9, 13.3, and 11.9 µM, respectively. Compound 4 was found to cause necrotic-like cell death in HL-60 cells.

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) has been widely used as an antitussive herb for thousands of years in China. However, FTB's traditional uses, chemical compounds and pharmacological activities have not been systematically reviewed. This study aimed to review its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicity. We searched the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explore the historical records which indicate that it acts to clear heat, resolve phlegm, relieve cough, remove toxicity and disperse abscesses and nodules. We searched 11 databases to identify potential phytochemical or pharmacological studies. Characteristics of its chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetic and toxicity were descriptively summarized. A total of 9706 studies were identified and 83 of them were included. As a result, 134 chemical constituents were identified, including 26 alkaloids, 29 compounds found in essential oils, 13 diterpenoids, two carbohydrates, two sterols, 18 amino acids, six nucleosides, four nucleobases, four fatty acids, three lignans, and 27 elements. Thirteen pharmacological effects of FTB were identified, including anti-cancer, tracheobronchial relaxation, antitussive, expectorant, anti-muscarinic, anti-inflammation, anti-thyroid, regulation of blood rheology, antiulcer, anti-diarrhea, pain suppression, antioxidation and neuroprotection. These pharmacological activities may be mainly attributed to the alkaloids in FTB. Further phytochemical, pharmacological and network pharmacological studies are recommended.